The Sun. — London, England, 1838-05-31 00:00:00

HE NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. Class of Persons. I Period. Avcrage amount of Sickness. Months. Days. 16 4 9 0 7 27 10 29 8 13 9 1 11 4 %% : Benefit Societies, that the National Loan Fund Life Assurance Society proposes to submit a plan of deferred annuities on a new principle, which will not only afford a more ample provi • sion for old age, and protection against sickness and misfortune, but, in addition, the means, at all times, of putting his ener gies in motion, and, in the event of a premature death, better protection to his family. The plan proposed will emLody several essential objects :- 1. To secure an increased provision for old age, out cf a given saving, by applying it exclusively to the purchase of a deferred annuity. 2. To render the purchase of a protection in sickness unne c-issary, by enabling, the purchaser of a deferred annuity to withdraw or borrow two- thirds of his previous payment. g, By the use of two-thirds of all his payments when required, to limit misfortune and want of employment, and extend !lin power of productiveness by an increasing command, Ie each year, of capita!, so that, while providing for old age, each successive contribution renders him more se cure aoinst present misfortune. 4. To afford, at the age at which the Deferred Annuity would commence, without reference to his then state of health, the option of receiving, instead of his annuity, its value in money, according to the value fixed on the contract, or a larger sum payable at his death. 5. In the event of death before the age at which he would be entitled to his Deferred Annuity, to return two-thirds of his ilayments to his family, or such fixed life assurance as may be settled on the contract. 6. In all such cases where the power of productiveness fails, either from disease or accident, to enable the assured on equal terms to convert his Deferred Annuity into a pre sent Annuity. Do the working classes require a still stronger proof of the immense advantages which the New Institution holds out to them over the best-regulated Benefit Societies ? They are referred to the following tabular exposition of the relative advantages to be detived from paying one shilling weekly in:o a Benefit Society, or purchasing with the same shilling a Deferred An nuity from the National Loan Fund Institution : A g e W. (Annuity` Cash. Policy Sickness Loan. I Death, , Age W. I Annuityi Cash.lPolicy; Sickners Loan. I Death. 4- '-'-' £. --------,--- s. V. s. X ' . S. ' IlBtional T i an Fund'l I I Ah.ferred Annuities i )...17 16 391 11 1 466 9 % of the 21 sf the ,% cf the Option of Benefits,' 1 payments pa y men ts!payments at 05 J received. Benefit Societies,/ 2,5 0 Ni! Nil allow- Nil Nil. ditto i i sickness., To any man who is in the least acquainted with business, the advantages here held out by the National Loan Fund Society, over every other institvtion, for the convenience of persons of limited in come, Are of no ordinary magnitude. There are few men in trade who will not readily admit, that there were occasions, in the course of their business transactions, when the command of a few hundreds would have all hut realized the means of an independence for them Hundreds have been fumed to become bankrupts—to the ruin of themselves and their families—whom the advantages here derivable, front /he saving of a few shillings weekly, would have maintained in credit with the world. We dare not trust ourselves to look deeper than the social surface, in order to point out the crimes engendered by the prospect of hopeless destitu tion. They will suggest themselves but too readily to every person capable of the least reflection. For these evils, necessarily inherent in the present social system, the National Loan Fund Society offers the most effec tual remedies which the ingenuity of man has yet devised. In the meanwhile w e t rus t t h at our P rov i nc i a l Con teivnporaries, whose co-operation is so necessary to the success of any project, however excellent, which wears the semblance of innovation, w ill unite cordially with us in canvassing the merits of the new Institution, and ;its adaptation to the wants of the middle and working 4:4 asses. Projects of improvement, based on sound principles, are sure to gain ground in public faith, in proportion as they are made the subjects of candid, public discussion. The Clergy of every religious de •acy, the Parochial Guardians from their rank or station in e confidence of the industrious )f good by taking part in a of the plan of social improve- National Loan Fund Society. 'y of them may feel upon (From The Sun of May 9.) Being firmly persuaded that nothing is so injurious to the moral feelings and habits of the industrious classes as the apprehension of poverty—as the almost moral certainty of comparative destitution in old age, unless riches can be acquired early in life—we deem it a duty which we owe to the public, and particularly to the classes which we have mentioned, to extend the observations which we madein The Sun of Saturday last, upon the prospects held out by the National Loan Fund Life Assurance Society to the provident of every grade in the scale of social being. We believe, with D'ISRAELI, that want of money or want of love will be found at the bottom of all the crimes, and nearly ali the misfortunes, that affect the happiness of our social relations. Not only poverty, but the well-founded dread of it, is an evil of no ordinary magnitude—a temptation to amass wealth by dishonest means, which few weak minds, with the opportunities in their favour, have been unable to resist. To make a people moral and happy the first step is to educate them, and the next is to prove to them that by husbanding their honest resources it will be impossible for them, with industry and good conduct, ever to encounter that worst enemy of human happiness—indigence. The Bri tish Legislature has, from time to time, devoted much of its attention to these objects. The Parish School and the Benefit Society are existing monu ments of its solicitude in the way of providing for the mental and corporeal wants of the industrious classes. It is now admitted on all hands that Benefit Societies have failed to render the poor more independent. They hold out the hope of a provision in sickness and old age ; but the way in which they administer aid to the sick, is of itself enough to break the spirit of any generous-minded individual. Besides, what is the average amount of sickness in the life of a labouring man, that he should be called upon to devote his surplus earnings to the keep ing up of a sick fund ? Why, on an ave rage, somewhere about from six days to twelve and a half annually, betwixt the ages of twenty and sixty five ! Is the fact doubted ? We quote the returns made by the best authorities upon the. subject : Average yearly Sickness in the period. Highland Societie,' return '2o to East India Company's labourers :10 to C 5 Factory Commissioners— Cotton 1 21 to 61 Wool, Yorksh re Ol to 61 Ditto, West of England 2l to 61 Flax, Yorxshire 2l to 61 Silk Soriety for Diffusion of Useful Knowledge to to 65, 18 21 j 12y In cases of sickness for a few days, it is but seldom that applications are made to Benefit Societies for any portion of the funds ; and it is no longer a mystery that the best conducted workmen rarely benefit to the amount of one farthing from the Societies' coffers. Not so the drunkard, th.e idle, and the improvi dent—who, under one pretext or other, contrive to subsist upon the hard earnings of their ho nest fellow-workinen. But, independently of all this, sickness and old age are not the only evils to which humanity is heir, against which it is neces sary to make an ample provision. As regards the helpless members of a family, want of employment is the same as want of health. To save the lives of his children, the member of a Benefit Society, who loses his work, has no resource but to tamper with his health—perhaps destroy his constitution for life—in order to qualify himself to become the recipient of the fruits of his own industry ! Is not this cruelly un just ? And yet these are not the only defects in the system of Benefit Societies, as is obvious from the following summary, which we extract from the Pros pectus of the Institution which we are recommendino.- to public patronage :- 1. Because sickness it%elf is not a calamity of equal probable duration to the ffuctuations in the quantity of employment and other casualties, and mi s f or t u n e , aga i ns t w hi c h Bene fit Societies offer no protection. 2. Because, out of a given meal's, the sum laid aside for sick ness must diminish the provision for old age. 3. Because many must contribute to the sick fund who never become chargeable upon it, and the value of such contri butions is lost to themselves and families. 4. Because sickness, being a state of non-productiveness, must necessarily be included in any protection against such an occurrence. Such are the defects of Benefit Clubs—and most serious defects they are, too. Now for the National Loan Fund Society's remedial projects : It is to remedy these defects, inherent in the constitution of , nomination, the Magistrz of the Poor,. s e all who life hi;rielillii: l P-4 - pon the classei, w 11!4 .orld of 41is'eussion of* rits c Thera proposed ii r he 1S a. r t% ' However supinely man:, - ,- - i < ty ' 'I A t v ; ~...,..4.- at a 111 other questions, we believe there are very few among them indifferent to the wants of the poor, when it is possible to provide for them without adding to the already oppressive burdens of those moving in the middle sphere of life. We have therefore, just grounds for calculating upon their zealous co-operation, if we can only prevail upon them to take the subject into their consideration. In so good a cause we shall not be easily discouraged. Our own honest impression is, that we are presenting them with a moral lever by which they may elevate the character, and improve the condition of every poor but industrious family in the country. Since the above was written we have learned that several influential Benefit Clubs have intimated their desire to join the National Loan Fund Life Assurance Society. We have further learned that this so desirable a junction can be effected by correspondence with the S oc i e ty, without prejudice, either to the existence, or the established convivial meetings of the Benefit Clubs—so necessary to the healthy recreation of the workmen, and to the watching over the interests of their respective trades. This is all that the best friends of the working classes can reasonably desire. For ourselves we should be sorry to interfere with their convivial or other meetings for the necessary re laxation of time mind, and the comfort of the body, after a week of severe toil. A moment's reflection in deed, will convince them that there is no necessary connection between the subscribing to a Provident Fund, and the meeting as a body, either to recreate themselves in a rational way, or to deliberate upon the ever fluctuating relations between the demand for, and the price of, labour. By all means let then?' meet as often as they may think convenient, for the purposes of business or pleasure, provided they take care to lay up a sure and independent fund to supply the necessities of old age. This cannot be so well effected by means of a Benefit Club, because such Clubs only provide against two, out of the whole list of human possible calamities. If we ask any sen sible • cabinet-maker, for instance, what advantage would he gain from a Benefit Club to which he had sub scribed for twenty years, in the event of his changing his location, so as to render it impossible for him to keep up his weekly or monthly contribution to the Club, his answer must ebe " nothing." How different would be the answer he would make to us, had he been so long a subscriber to the National Loan Fund Society, to the amount of only two shil lings or half-a-crown weekly ? What we then wish the working classes to do, is to distinguish between the new institution and Clubs for convivial and business pur poses. They flave, in fact, no necessary connection what ever ; and whoever seeks to confound them, is not the working man's friend. Now, in advocating the claims of the National Loan Fund Society to the earnest attention of the middle and working classes—and above all, the latter, because the most helpless—we seek no other merit than that of desiring, above all things, to promote their moral and pecuniary welfare. NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE AS SURANCE SOCIETY. (From the Berkshire Chronicle.) A public meeting was held in the Council Chamber, Townhall, Read ng, on Tuesday, the 15th instant, to consider the propriety of introduc ng this Society to the County, under the sanction of a Lccal Board of Direction. The plan of this Institution was formed by T. Laurie Mur ray, Esq., and is admitted to be one of the most comprehensive and safe ever produced. We noticed the attendance of several of the Clergy and Gentry, and many of the principal tradesmen of the town, with a tolerable sprinkling of mechanics. The Mavoa (It. Billing, Esq.) took the Chair, and addressed the meeting. Recommenced by explaining the objects this Society had in view—one of these objects was to afford an opportunity to persons of the middle classes of life—to tradespeople, labourers, and mechanics—in short, to individuals in every station—to make provision for themselves and their families, on principles which were more advantageous in many points of view than those of other Societies, many of which were not ac.. cessible to individuals in the humbler walks of ltfe.—(Hear, hear.) It was only a few days ago, continued the speaker, that my attention was first called to the subject, since which time I have examined the statements and calculations which are submitted to the public by this Company ; and it is from an examination of these tables, and from con versation with the gentlemen who arc set clown to organize the Society here, that I have a perfect conviction that this is a Company of the highest importance, not only to individuals but also to the nation at large. I therefore most willingly lend my aid to the furtherance of these desirable objects; but as there are gentlemen present more inti mately acquainted with the Society than I am, and who will fully ex plain its objects to the meeting, I will not longer trespass on your time; but before I sit down I must state that I have received a letter from theßev. M. Maurice, agentlerran whose extensive acquaintance with the subject is well known. The letter spoke in the highest terms of the Company, and as one calculated to benefit especially the middling classes and tradesmen with small capital ; and expressed a hope that the benefits of such a Society would he universally extended. The Mayor then said he should call on Mr. Hampton, a gentleman connected with the So ciety, to state the views and objects for which it was formed. Mr. I. W. HasereroN then rose and addressed the meeting. He said that however elevated the position of an individual, the opportunity of addressing an assemblage of his countrymen must be always regarded by him as one of the highest honours and gratifications he could receive, and therefore that honour and gratification must be greatly increased when, in being permitted this privilege, an humble person found himself surrounded by the most respectable, influential, and intelligent gentle men of the community. He then proceeded as follows :—By the invi tation of your Honourable Chairman, and with your permission, I will now proceed to lay before you the principles and objects of the National Loan Fund Life Assurance Society, which we have met this day to hear unfolded ; and whilst I endeavour to point out its important features, the grand results to accrue from its establishment to all Classes of persons, but particularly as tending to elevate and knit together in/closer bonds of social and moral union, the labouring portion of the population, I shall do my best to merit your indulgent and patient hearing, by rendering my exposition_ of its principles as brief as a clear elucidation of the subject will permit. The science of life assurance is compara tive'y of modern date, yet, nevertheless, in the course of a few years it has progressed so rapidly in public opinion, that every thinking pct son is convinced of its imprrtance and necessity in mitigating the evils arising out of the individual uncertainty of human life. Like all sciences and new inventions, however, it is susceptible of great improvement, both as regards the advantage to accrue to a society. as well as to the people at large, by greater and more general suppot t. The true application of its prirciples for the purpose of ex teneliag its benefits over every class in the country has never yet been attempted : this is clearly proved by the small amount of persons insured in proportion to the population. The population of England and Wales is about 14 millions, and the number of persons insured supposed to be nut more than SO,OOO, and this fact, coupled with the admission by all parties of the importance of life as surances, must create surprise in those who are unacquainted with the cause; but the truth is, hitherto life assurance has been made available only to the rich, whilst the man of limited income has had its doors closed against him by the risks of loss and forfeiture, which the inability to pay up one premium would expose him to, and thus, a:though the ad , vantages are chiefly in favour of the Companies established, they have defeated their own object, viz., a large amount of business, by the num ber of policies upon which they each accumulate capital. If all the policies were divided among the existing offices it would give to each shout 1,500. The Equitable has acquired a capital of nearly eleven millions sterling, whilst its total number of policies has never exceeded 7,000 ; the larger offices are all extremely rich with an average of no more than 1,000 each, and one or two are doing extremely well with only 300 or 400, Had this not been the case, the principles of assur ance would have provided for every contingency of human life, and the endeavours of benevolent individuals to provide the meat s of saving and accumulation to the humbler classes by the formation of Savings Banks, and by those classes themselves, by Benefit Societies for their mutual support and protection, would perhaps never have been attempted. I shall however, I think, be able to show that both the above institutions fulfil but in an imperfect degree the objects intended, and are incom mensurate with the good that might be effected by a better application of the same means. It is well known that outlets for the employment and rapid accumulation of large capital are various, but the possessor of five or ten pounds finds his substance constantly frittered away by want of the same means. The Savings Banks fulfil in some degree the above want, and have been of incalculable benefit in a moral point of view in particular, but nevertheless Savings Eanks are surrounded by restric thins, wise no doubt, but thereby rendering ultimateprotection at periods of misfortune or old age infinitely less than would at first be sul posed. A Depositor is limited to 30/. in any one year, exclusive cf compound Interest, to 1501., with accumulations, at any period of life, which on amounting to that suns ceases to receive interest, and is furthermore bound to make a declaration that he possesses no other funds in any Sav ing Bank whatsoever. Now to a man of olvanced age, sick or infirm pos sessing a wife or children, and past the period of productive employment, 2001. will not purchase an annuity equivalent to his wants, which at a later period of life are always greater than in early youth ; be sides it has become a question whether Savings Banks can con tinue much longer to be allowed to increase at their present rate. Since their first establishment in 1810 they have increased so rapidly, that there is said to be one in every district of fifteen miles, and their accu. mulations by the last returns twenty millions and a Judi; increasing in the present ratio, in the course of fifteen years these accumulations will exceed 100 millions ; and, looking further, there is no saying where these enormous accumulations might end, as the amounts arc returnable at three weeks' notice, and would exceed five or tenfold the whole value of bullion in the country; a sudden withdrawal of funds might occasion great inconvenience. I beg, however, In making the foregoing remarks most distinctly to be understood as not wishing in the remotest degree to reflect on those admirable institutions; the good they have effected is incalculable, and ought, and I am sure will, continue to receive the fullest popular support, until the Legislature thinks proper, at a future perio I, to circumscribe their limits. At the present mo- meat Savings Banks, by the combined influence of c u r Society, will become doubly useful, by allowing a depositor, when hi; accumulations have reached a certain - amount, to apply those savings without risk, for the purpose of bringing in larger re turns than compound interest can give him, and which I will presently show. On the other hand, Benefit or Friendly Societies are objectionable two ways; in the first place, as tending to diminish the objects for which they are established—viz. provision during sickness, or . . _ an annuity in old age—by the constant waste of money their meetings lead to, so that portions of the sums which would otherwise go into the aeposit fund are spent in drink. lam able to state, on the authority of Mr. Ansell, the talented Actuary of the Atlas Office, that " he sup poses that there are no fewer than 1,000,000 persons in the kingdom members of Friendly Societies, and probably each person does nut on an average spend less than ss. p er annum at the monthly meetings and yearly feasts. The annual expenditure, for what is in many cases a worse than useless purpose, will therefore not fall short of 250,000/. ; and to show you to what an extent this evil is carried, I will take leave to read a striking instance of a fact which came to the same gentle man's knowledge ; he says—" An instance has come to the author's knowledge which exemplifies in a very forcible manner the evils here spoken of. It is that of a Society in which each member had to contribute four-pence fur spending money on every monthly night of meeting, whether he be present or absent ; and the aggregateof the spending money is always drunk out by those who may chance to attend. The Society alluded to consists of 9.50 members, and the spending money is therefore 4/. gs. 4d. per month, At the meeting in July, 1830, 26 members only were present, so that each had to con sume drink costing 3s. 21• t d. After a large quantity of beer had been consumed, ardent spirits were drusek, and ultimately beer was thrown out at the windows, because the whole of the money was to be expended for the good of the houze. Such a case needs no comment ; but it may be stated that some of the members whose fourpences were tlken from the fund and expended, might, in fact, leave the Society, and never pay their contributions—in all such cases the Society would there. fore lose the fourpences spent." On the other hand, Benefit Societies are defective in principle, leas nuch as a large portion of the deposit (nearly one.half) is set aside to provide for a contingency which is a limited portion of human life—thus reducing the annuity of the depo. sitor in a considerable degree. I allude to sickness. I hold in my hand a paper which on the experience cf several societies over a i • very extensive range of lee, for a period of 45 yeas, between the ages of 20 and 65, show such a small a cunt of sickness that providing for that contingency is even more defective than it had at first been sup. posed. The experience of the Highland Society of Scotland, deduced from 79 Benefit Societies, extending over a period of 70 years, from 1750 to 1821, upon a population ansoenting to 104,218, gives the average sickness of each for 45 years as being 16 mese ths and 4 days, or average yearly sickness 11 days. The returns of the East India Com. palsy's labourers show an average yearly sickness of only 6 days. The Factory Commissions rs, in their calculations upon persons employed in cotton wo )1, bath in Yorkshire and the west of England, flax, silk, and in the potteries, show the yearly sickness of each person to be 71 days; and the Society for the Diffusion of Usefal knowledge, from returns taken from Benefit Societies, upon a population of 24,323, give an ave rage of 14 days. " Thus it appears that the hi hest expectation of sick_ ness among males is 12 to days, and the lowest 6 days in each year from the age of 20 to 65; its mean duration, inclusive of accidents of all kinds, would be 9,1- days, during which from these causes an indite_ dual may expect to be abstracted from proeuctive employment its each year throughout a period of 45 years; while it may be observed, his religious observance of the Sabbath, in which he shall do no work, has diminished his productiveness by its recurrence in the same period six years and 156 days." It fellows, therefore, that to provide for the above contingency by abstracting a portion of the deposit is most de. fective; it makes the healthy man pay for the support of the sick, when in Isis particular circumstances of lire the tvhok of his deposits ought to have been made available for his own use; and I believe it has constantly occurred that an individual has been paying all the dues of a Benefit Society for thirty and forty years without getting anything in return ; as a further proof how defective this principle is, and to what an extent the earnings of the healthy and industrious go towards the support of the sick and the indolent, it has been ascertained that sickness in Benefit Societies is double that which is shown by the experience of the East India Company's labourers and the Factory Commissioners, and which can only be accounted for by the facility with which sickness csn be feigned, it is therefore clear that if half the amount set asi - legoes for the support of those who are really sick, the other is most certainly wasted upon those practising the grossest frauds upon their associates. The National Loan Fund Life Assurance Society fulfils all and each of the objects and contingencies of human life by a better application of the same means in a manner which I may call the economy of capital ; a Savings Bank fulfils one object, a Benefit Society another, a Lean Society a third; but with the National Loan Fund Assurance, an individual may secure to himself each or al! of these advantages, and at any period of life lie may choose, take Isis op tion. In order to make the benefits of life assurance, therefore, extend to all class: s, to the respectable tradesman of limited incur: e, and to the poorer artizan and la:sourer, we have introduced in our plates of life assurance two privileges, which, while it offers greater security and profit to the Society, by the certainty of the most unbounded popu lar support, relieve the assured and the depositor from the constant fear of loss or forfeiture to which those possessed of no certain income have hitherto been exposed. These advantages we secure, in the first place, as set forth by our Prospectus, by returning two-thirds of a mail's payments to his relatives at his death in the event of forfeiture, with any bonus there may been assigned to his policy dur ing the continuance of his payments; and, secondly, in the event of temporary misfortune, giving him the liberty to borrow to the same amount. Thus the advantages are two fold, securing to a man that peace of mind which the constant fear of forfeiture by inability to keep up his policy must constantly disturb, in addition to the mortification of having spent his money in vain ; but also that assistance during misfor tune which he would seek uselessly from any ether office, and which prompt relief would in most cases prevent. Let us now look at it in another light. It is supposed that the amount of money tied up in In surance Companies varies from 60 to 120 millions ; now this is com paratively a dead lock for the purposes of productiveness. Only sup pose that the whole, or a portion of this amount could be distributed over the country for the objects of industry, I think I need not argue what an impulse of prosperity and activity would give to the country. It is upon such sound principles that this Society is based—it receives du ring periods when there are not opportunities for the extensive em ployment of capital, the savings of the industrious, and is also a Loan Fund for the purpose of productiveness when occasion presents itself; and besides these advantages on both sides, I need, I think, hardly point out how much greater is the moral benefit for a man to borrow upon his own savings than to lay himself under obligations to any one; thus the National Loan Fund Society opens its doors to the most narrow income, and by providing for the independence of every class tends more than any other institution to promote the moral and intellectual advancement of the country at large.,,, I will now proceed to show in what way, as regards the plan of deposits, the National Loan Fund surpasses all other So. cieties in the advantages it offers to the depositor, anti its extreme utility as regards its combination with Savings Banks :—for example— a person aged 25 having accumulated a certain amount in a Savings Bank, and wishing to apply a portion of it with this Society, would, by a monthly payment of 7s. 4d., or a weekly sum of ls. 51:1., secure to his survivors 2001. in the event of dying within the year, and be able, besides, to draw two-thirds of his premiums for Isis own use. For his accumulations to reach that film, it would perhaps take many years, whilst in case of early death, after the first monthly or weekly payment, the whole of the above sum would be secured to his survivor. Thus, when Isis accumulations bad reached their highest point, by depositing with this .Society he would secure the greatest possiisle amount to his successor, not only without risk, but with profit to himself. As a kind of Benefit Society, acting upon a sounder principle, the advantages ate still more obvious :—By the payment of a weekly shilling, a depositor, through a better application of the same means, or, as I have observed before, by the economy of capital, is able to obtain for himself the following re sult.. The principle upon which the Society is based, viz., returning two. thirds of the payments at death in the event of forfeiture, and granting permission to borrow to the same amount in the event of misfortune, enables a man, say of twenty, to secure to himself the option of the fol lowing benefits at sixty-five. By the weekly deposit of a shilling he will have an annuity of 47/. 16s. ; cash, 394/. Its.; or a policy payable at death of 4661. in the event of forfeiture, or of his not reaching the above age, two-thirds of his payments will be returned to his relatives— under sickness the power to borrow to the same amount (and as I have shown that the contingency is trifling, the above means will be ample); and in case of temporary misfortune an equivalent loan. On the other hand a Benefit Society can only grant for the same weekly payment an an nuity of 261., but gives neither the option ofa sum of money or apolicy, an allowance during sickness (which after a few weeks is reduced to one half) nothing as a loan, and at deaths sometimes a small sum of money for fu neral expences. With the National Loan Fund you will perceive the contingency fbr sickness b e ing p rov id e d f or, on l y i n t h e e vent of th a t calamity occu rring, a depositor's money is so a ppli e d th a t the fullest ad_ vantage is derived from it, whatever may be the peculiar circumstances in which himself or his survivors may be placed. And I think it is fair to argue, that if the prosperity, success, and stability ofa society depend upon the amount of bu s i ness d one, th e c l a i ms i t h as t o p o pular and ee. neral support must render it the most extensive in Europe, and I can prove by analogy that if Savings Banks have accumulated by small de posits from the poorer population a sum excceeding twenty millions sterling—if benefit societies, in s pit e o f th e i r d e ficiencies, have got 1,000,0(0 of deposit ors —i t i s not unreasona bl e t o presume, that in holding out greater advantages and better security to a mere intelligent and wealthy class, its the aggregate, the most in. telligent and wealthy in the kingdom, the National Loan Fund Fund Life Assurance Society may reasonably look forward in such a country as Erglaml to thosegreat results which it is xow labouring to produce. I might here take this opportunity to mention that the prin ciples of the above institution, particularly the principle of deferred an. insides, with the option of benefits, will offer invaluable advantages to a most numerous class which has scarcely been taken into the considera. tion of ary society, and which, from their position and education, are naturally disposed to Leek for greater returtss than the minor insti tutions, I mean strings banks and beeefit societies are able to give, and who are yet exposed to great risks of forfeiture and loss. I allude to merchants, and bankers, clerks in general, possessing salaries from 801. to e.OO/. per annum, more or less, with the p rospec t o f i ncre ase ; in_ deed, so much has this want been felt, that it was proposed, but I believe has never yet been carried into execntion, that all the clerks in London should form themselves into a soc'ety for their Innate( protection. This, however, the establishment of our society will now render 1111- neces,ary—for instance, If a person cf 20 call secure to Limself, by the deposit of a weekly Is., an :tenuity of 471. 16s, w ith options, these mivantages will be increased five or tenfold in proportion to the deposit, so that according to a man's age, or the period he wishes to retire frum arduous labour, lie will have secured to himself two, three, or four It undrea per annum, and be able to enjoy that repose and com fort which every man in advanced life ought to possess, an d more espe cially if that life has be en a l a b or i ous and an active one. I have now, Gentlemen, I think, laid berme you as briefly a s I was a bl e , the plans and principles a this Society, comparing it with other Assurance Offices as regards the certainty edits extensive operations, and t he moral revc l e lution it is calculated to effect throughout the country, its superiority is • obvious ; and I think if you will leok at in any light, in a commercial,; philosophical, or pecuniary point of view, it will appear equally favour able. I will new, therefore, with your permission, address a few words in conclusion to the philanthropist. Th s country more titan any other • boasts, I am proud to say, the brightest and most virtuous names, the number of useful and charitable institutions, founded by benevolent. individuals and supported by private charity attest the fact; but if the true principle of charity is, as I hold it to be, not the mere act of giving, but bears a wider and more extended constructiosi, instructing the ignorant, enabling the seed disposed to provide for themselves by their own industry, relieving the sick, the aged, and tie infirm, then I call upon yeti to co. operate wills us in carrying out the principles of this society, which will give to the labouring man the certainty of that independence—that full return of his industry in Isis old age which he has every claim to, but which he has never yet been able to secure to himself. It has been trees , said, that "the vices of the poor are the pun ishment of the rich." If the farmer or lauded proprietor has his ricks burned, his barns fired, does it not behove hiss to remote Use - cause of such evils ? And what are the causes but ignorance, and the want of the power of productiveness. Who is the rick burner, the poacher, the incendiary, and the vagabond ? The . man who has re ce i ved no instruction —who po s3sse alio stake in the c oun t r y — w h o h aving nothing to lose, cares not fur the losses of others—who wanting b read and the very means of existence, commit s th a t act which renders the food he wants more difficult of acquisition. On th e ether hand, the in dustrious well-disposed labourer is a blessing to hi s employer; he hn- P • rove interest the value of Isis land—he increases his wealth —and therefore s sehf i"gr gratitude, e'should point o u t that his industry ought in his even,old g available to him se lf , as it was to his ao if to be made master in his youth and in the vigour of his manhood. The happi_ ness of our fellow-creatures is incorporated with our own ; in doing good to others we serve ourselves." Let us carry out to its fullest extent this o we wear, e principle, if I may so term it, of noble selfishness, emd soon, very soon, crime will no longer wall: abroad, and by re-acting upon placed by to many dangers fortune out of the reach of temptation, punish them f or their neglect. We do not su ffi c i en tl y cons id e r the obligations we ow e th e producer, the eperative, and the tiller of the soil, upon whom our ve r y existence throughtl depe i nl , s, ant: who, and to much to procure physicalu s th e blessings suffering; enjoy, the n clothes greatthat e w e a t e r r m i ° s r a u t s i 0 , n e voefri 1 anti °rt risk y, comfort aild o f not a trad e b ut has of life, are ours its peculiar decea se, it s own r i s k of decreptitude, suffering, an d death ; f i fuel and is it not hard that after such a life a man's old age should end in a workhouse ; that Isis earnings, the produce of the sweat of his brow, should be fretted away for waist of the fullest means of accumulation ? No! if such has heels the case, let it be so no longer—unite with us, enable each man, the very poorest, to ac quire a stake in the country, to provide, by the industry of his youth, tier the independence of his old age; and I t h ink you will agree me when I say that that moral good, that moral revolution, will be effected in this country with the further aid of education and religion, which railroads, in another sense, are now producing in the land. Gentlemen, I feel that I have detained you too long, but the subject I was upon has carried me away beyond my intended limit ; I will, however, now give place to a gentleman whose co-operation and support affords us the highest pride, and whose name alone will be a guarantee of the moral objects of the Society; and in doing so, I beg to express my sincerest thanks for the kind, flattering, and patient atten. Lion you have given me throughout. After some conversation between the Mayor, the Rev. Mr. Blizard, the Rev. Mr. Ball, the Rev. Mr. Austen, W. Stevens, Esq., ar.d Mr. Vine% The Rev, G. IlutmE then rose and addressed the meet i nu to the following effect :—ln rising for the purpose of proposing the resolution which I hdd in my hand,perhaps some apology is necessary for one who holds, however unworthily, the sacred office which I do, for taking apart in pro ceedings of a financial nature; but because Ido not consider the subject as one of atemporal character only—as one by which a little more may be gained ; but because I look at it in amoral point of view, and perceive such great advantages, calculated in my opinion to effect great improvement in the condition and habits of the ineustrious classes, that I come for_ ward for the purpose of saying a few words on the present Occasion. And when it is recollected what. a great change 1153 been made in the condition of the poor by the working of the New Poor Law Act, I will say, without expressing an opinion either for or against that measure, it is incumbent on all the friends of the poor to co operate in any measure calculated to improve their habits, and to restore that spirit of independence, the absence of which has occasioned so much evii.—(Great applause.) Many years ago I assisted in form. ing the Savings Bank here, and I have marked its success with feelings of delight—but do not let it be supposed that we wish to disparage those excellent institutions —on the contrary, I melees they will be found valuable auxiliaries to the present Society ; for if a labourer has placed 101 in one of them, Ire cant at any time invest that sum in this Insurance Company, and will reap great benefit by being able to realize in a shorter time the amount for which he had ju-e -viously insured. This would be a great stimulus to industry, arid would encourage the insurer in industrious habits by a prospect of reward. Every father of a family basks forward with anxiety to his final depar ture, and that principle prevailed among the higher classes, who were large insurers—the reason is, they are desirous to make a certain provision for their children ; it is this privilege we wish to place within the reach of every man, so that he may say when he lays his head upon his pillow :—" if it please God that I should be taken this night, I shall not leave my wife and my family unprovided for, with nothing but the workhouse for their home; but there is a pro_ vinion for them —my property is here—they will not he left destitute."__ (Applause.) It may be said that savings banks do this—but we do more than they do. A roan may commence early and place deposits in tire savings banks, but he must wait long before Ire can realize the few paltry pounds which his money produces there. Here, on the contrary, if he is insured today and dies to-morrow, his family immediately receive two thirds of the amount for which Ire was insured. With the savings bank it is an uncertainty whether he accumulates a sufficient sum to maintain him in old age—here we offer him an immediate and certain provision, by investing the same amount in this Company. To the me. chanic, the tradesman, and all those whose whose incomes are uncertain, we offer greater advantages than any other Societies can.—(Hear.) There were certain things which disticguished this Society from Benefit Societies and gave it a decided preference. ‘Vhen a member of a Be nefit Society became sick he was then an object of suspicion, was under the irksome control!! of " visitors"—here there was nothing of the kind. With the other at their meetings it was said, "if Jan or Thomas Si-and-so in ill much longer we shall be broke up," and feelings were engendered which ought never to exist—here we have nothing of the kind, any one may draw out their money if sick and the general interest is not injured.—(Hear, hear.) In a moral point of view the advantages offered by this Society are obvious. It raises the cha racter of the Insurer in his own estimation and in the estimation of others—a spirit of independence springs up in Iris mind—he is a man who has a stake in the country, wino has a character to lose—it becomes a powerful principle in restraining him from vice, and by the exercise of a trifling self.denial he will secure that which will hereafter amply reward him; and it also restores that spirit of independence, the absence of which among the poor Irma been the bane of the country. It promotes, too, domestic happiness and contentment. The wife can no longer reproach the husband with making no provision for her; the husband, instead of being reckless in his habits, becomes carefal, saving, and contented in his disposition, and his attachment to his wife and family strengthened. Nor does this Company profess to insure at lower terms than other Companies--I would have nothing to do with it if that had been the case ; but it offers perfect security to the insurer, and also fair remuneration to those who conduct the Society. The inte rests of all concerned in it are regarded ; it does not offer some golden scheme of wealth which will turn out to be mere moonshine, but it will, I doubt not, be found a blessing to the country, if we unite together and endeavour to carry out the principles of this good cause. The Rev. Gentleman concluded a powerful and energetic address amid general marks of approbation. Mr. Thomas Ltrren worms seconded the resolution. It would be presumptuous in him to offer any remarks after the excellent address they had just heard, and the able speech of Mr. Hampton, but he en. tirely concurred in the view which had boen taken of the benefits that would result from this institution. W. STEPIIENS, Esq., said that the calculations in the tables of the Society had been made with profound sagacity, and were based on sound and excellent principles. lie would not trespass on the time of the meeting after the able speeches they had heard, the advantages of the Society having been so fully detailed, that they must be evident to all.—(Applause.) Mr. K VINES said he would avail himself of the present opportunity to state why he had come forward on behalf of the present undertaking. It would extend those advantages to the middling and poorer classes which it was an indisputable fact had until now been only within the reach of the wealthy.—(Hear, hear.) It was manifest to all that there must be some inherent defect in the constitution of existing Insurance Companies when it was borne in mind that only 80,000 persons were insurers out of a population of fifteen millions; it be came therefore a subject of inquiry among some gentlemen whether a plan could not be devised which would embrace within its sphere in dividuals of every class and in every circumstance .1* life. The result had been the formation of that Society which had been brought before the notice of the inhabitants of this town and county to-day. And here he would point out the great disadvantages and in conveniences attendant on insuring in most of the other Companies, and also which resulted from belonging to Benefit or Friendly Societies. The insurer in the event of death, or of being a defaulter in his payments, lost for ever those advantages which he had been perhaps for some years contributing by his industry to procure. The machinery of all Benefit Societies was most defective—the principle being for the healthy man to pay for the sick man; and when the average amount ofsickness—only from 6to 8 days a year —was considered, the advantages of such a Society as this over them must be strikingly self-evident to every unprejudiced person. —(Hear.) It offered advantages by investing from the largest sum down to the smallest fraction, and by enabling the insurer at any time when his necessities required it to revert to, and fall back upon two thirds of the capital he had embarked in this Society ; and by giving him the opportunity of redeeming his policy at any future period, it rendered it the most safe and profitable investment which a man could make; and lie fully believed that as the operations of this institution were more universally diffused —and there was no question that they speedily would —a would be found that it would benefit the great masss of mankind and particularly the commercial world.—(Applause.) W. SIEMENS, Esq., observed that he had the tables of thirty-nine offices before him, and taking their average this Society was not under them ; it was, therefore, no catch-penny concern.—(llear, hear.) Mr. Sicvca, a cabinet-maker in this town, said, after hearing the arguments of the different speakers, I am convinced this Society is far better than any Benefit Society. Of hundreds of Benefit Societies there are few that stand many years—they break up because they have not made proper calculations, and from their rule of "spending money" at their weekly, monthly, and quarterly meetings ; also the ex pense of their annual feast, although there were only '2OO members in the one I belonged to, our feast cost 504 They are also open to impo sition, and means were used to detect it and their were fined 10s. ; but that was but a trifle after living for months on the club. I have known some of them receive as much as '2OOl, in that way. I continued as a member fur 18 years, and was only ill a fortnight during the whole of that time, and when this Society broke up we divided at the rate of4jd. in the pound, so that I received 3s. 4d., and the oldest member, who had belonged to it 38 years, received 7s. I Ocl. ; the youngest, who had been in 1 0 mouths, and who had paid 18s. Gel., received 3s 9d. And so con vinced am I of the advantages of this Society, that I should wish all my family to belong to it. Rev. G. Hur.m E moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor, for his able con. duct in the Chair. The motion was seconded by W. Stephens, E,q., and carried (as were all the resolutions) unanimously. The MAYOR, in returning thanks, observed that it always afforded him peculiar gratification to preside at and assist in promoting the ob jects of Societies like the present; and indeed of all institutions which had for their end the benefit and improvement of the condition of man kind generally, and which were eminently calculated to benefit the local interests of the town and neighbourhood. This had been Isis conduct since he filled his present ( nice, and to it he intended to adhere as long as he occupied that situation.—(Applause.) The meeting then separated. ,E VENTY-NINTH HIGHLANDERS.—The store keeper of Edinburgh Castle received, on Saturday last, from the Tower, London, 659 stand of arms, of the most improved new pattern, for the i mmediate use of the 79th Highlanders. The pouch and bayonet belts are found to be too short, by some inches, for the grenadier company of this regiment, whos: - : average height is 5 feet I I-,-, inches, a fact of which t he 110n,urable Clothing Board appear not to have been aware. The 79th were to have marched yesterday, but the departure of the regiment has been postponed ; it is expected that they will not move before the 4th of next month, after being reviewed by the Commander of the Forces. —Edinburgh Paper. GOING A-lIEAD IN AMERlCA.—Railroad facilities were practically exemplified a short time back. Hackett performed Falstaff on Thursday night at Washington, appeared at Philadelphia on Friday ; repeated Falstaff; which had been called E. once more, at Washington on Saturday, rested twelve hours in each of those cities, and reached New York next evening, Sunday, about midnight. From Pidladcl d hi a to Washington is 150 mites, and from Washington to New York 228 miles. • Within th e last few (lays almost all the journeymen boot-makr.Ts at the west end of the town have" struck" for an advance of wages. The masters have, however, firmly resisted them, notwith standing the inconvenience and loss to which they are thereby subjected, particularly at this season of the year. It is expected that the "strike" will not be of very long continuance, as the men see, from the firm position taken by the masters, that they have no chance of obtaining their demands. 1 . PRECISE INTELLIGENCE.—A Tipperary Paper gives its readers the following specific information relative to proposed matrimonial arrangements among the letters of the alphabet. Whether the readers of Tipperary were able to glean any informatio❑ from the announcements is difficult tc say :—" The handsome and wealthy Mr. M, of is about to lead to the hymeneal altar the lovely Miss J. It—, of II d. The beautiful Miss C—, of this town, is about to be married to an eminent b —r, of Dublin. Mr. B— is about to lead the amiable Miss T—d, (both of this toan,) to the altar." On Wednesday evening last, as two or three work men in the chain manufact or y o f M r. G ething In this town, were ' weighing some chains, a wall on which the scales were suspended gave way, and fell on a young mall named John Gray, and injured him se verely. He was carried Imme in an insensible state, and the following morning he expired.— Cambiian. The salmon fishing, by the improved stake net on the'Clyde, is doing well this season at all the stations on the Clyde, but more especially at Mr. Wallace of Kelly's fishing at Wemyss Bay. About three times the number of fish have been taken, up to the pre sent time, that were taken last year, and it was a good season. The p r ice of salmon, nevertheless, still keeps high, but it is expected to fall immediately.— Greenock .lavertiser. DUELING.—Nothing seems more absurd than the unequal terms upon which duellists meet. One shall be weary of life, racked with pain, and in the contemplation of suicide; his antagonist in full health , and in enjoyment of it. One shall be just on the eve of marriage with the livelie s t o f women, an angel to his thought in his moment of hazard ; the other shall be glad to get rid of his wife, even at the chance of getting a bullet through his brain. One man shall have lost his all, and the other shall have won it. One shall be a dependent beggar, with just five sovereigns in his pocket; his antagonist the titled and courted possesor of half a county. The one man, if he be shot, shall leave his widow and children destitute; the other may en rich his nearest kindred by Isis death. And all this daily takes place for the proper satisfaction of a gentleman! " Blackwood's Magazine. A complaint was made last Monday in the police court, that several parties hawked arid cried sh r i mps i n the streets on Sunday. jr appears by the Act o f P arliament, that, however great a luxury fresh shrimps may be to the poor, they are nut to be allowed to buy them on the Sunday—the Act specifying only mackerel and milk as articles to be sold on that day.—Lhell Observer. RAPE.—On Monday se'nnight, a fellow named employed as a roller, at th e Tredegar Iron Works, was Meredith, brought before S. Homfray, Esq., charged with the commission of rape en Mary Mitchell, aged eleven years, of the parish of Bedwelty, on the night of Sunday the 25th of March last. The child swore to the perpe tration of the capital offence. The prisoner, in his defence, declared that the girl was a consenting party.—...Gommitted,—Cambrian. Days. 11 6 1-15 THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1838. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC: JOURNALS Much disappointment and dissension would often be avoided, were parties to define what they actually mean by the terms they employ. No two persons, for instance, attach the same meaning to the word Church. Mr. O'Connell, for instance, on Tuesday night, when alluding to the Roman Catholic Relief Act, " admitted that it was implied by that Act that the Protestant religion should be secure from the encroachments of the Roman Catholic religion, and that in reference to the Church Esta blishment, it was for the Protestants to decide whether or not they would increase or diminish the articles of religion. Its discipline and its doc trines were all free from his impeachment; but when they came to the codsideration of pounds, shillings, and pence, when they came to the payment of money, he denied that they had granted any thing which either expressed or implied that they had not as good a right to interfere as the Right HonourableGentleman (Sir R. Peel) himst IC" Now, all this comes of not defining what is meant by Church. Mr. O'Connell understands by it an assembly of persons believing in cer tain doctrines, and subject to a certain discipline. This is the meaning of. Church in the primitive times of Christianity. Mr. O'Connell would be liberal to excess in the matter of articles, but would withold tithes. Sir Robert Peel, on the other hand, considers articles and discipline as merely means to an end, the enabling those who profess time articles and submit to the discipline to enjoy tithes and other temporalities. The end is the property. All ambiguity would have been avoided had it been declared in the Relief Bill that no Roman Catholic should offer any impediment to the persons calling them,elve3 Pro testants agreeing on any number of articles, adding to or dimi nishing the present number as they might sec fit, or to their retaining the present discipline or altering it, in whole or in part. Would such a declaration have been deemed satisfactory ? Sir Henry Vane is said to have tricked the Scotch Presbyterians by stipulating that the Churches of the two kingdoms should be reformed according to the word of God, the Scotch never dreaming that any doubt could be entertained that the Presbyterian model was in strict accordance with the word of God, while Sir Henry had a very different model in his mind. Those Pro testants who think that a Church and temporalities are identical (and we fear there are but too many who think so) were like the Scotch, deceived by their own confidence. Had they read the Bible, in which Christ says— "My kingdom is not of this world," it might not have altered their views as to tithes being the end, and the articles the me. its ; limit it would perhaps have opened their eyes to the imperfect nature of the security on which they were about to rely. Unfortunately, however, High Churchmen never read the Bible, and only avail themselves of it when the object is to defeat any plan of general education. And yet wilco Dr. Magee said of the Irish Catholics that they had a Church without religion, and oldie Presbyterians that they had religion without a Church, the saying might have suggested a doubt whether Church and Tithes were exactly synonymous. It remains to be seen how far Mr. O'Connell's liberality to the Protestants in the way of articles will prove satisfactory to the clergy,—Morning Chronicle. When we glanced the other day at the number of occasions on which the conscientious generosity of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel had stepped in to save the Queen's Ministers from that destruction which had been prepared for them by their own professed supporters, it was far from our thoughts to describe as i any degree censurable the re sistance given to the wild and iniquitilus proposal fur robbing West India planters of their vested right in the labour of the negro apprentices. It would have been impossible for Conservative Members of Parliament to vote in favour of Sir Eardley , Wilmot's proposition, or adversely to the resolutions of Sir George Grey, without making theinselves parties to an act of the worst example—for authorising in every future instance a broad and downright violation of the rights of property, an unqualified breach of the most solemn compact, and an utter defeazance of those secu rities and safeguards which it is theprovince of legislation throughout the whole civilised world to throw around the persons and fortunes of unofrencling men. The West India proprietors are accused of having, by the breach of their engagements to the negroes, released the Imperial Parliament from the bonds imposed upon it by the Art of I 533. But this is, first, not true ; and second, if true, Parliament has in its own hands a remedy—that specific remedy which it undertook to employ— viz. a legislative provision, or provisions, of such a nature as should compel the planter and the negro to abide by and to fulfil the en gagements which had been stipulated for both by the Act of 1833. The Imperial Parliament then took upon itself the right and duty of entirely superseding, should it so think tit, the Legislative action of the Colonial Assemblies, for the purpose, not of breaking up and annihilating time compact of 1833, and exonerating either white man or black man from his relative obligations to the other, as Sir G. Strickland, Sir E. Wilmot, and such statesmen have required, but of enforcing that compact in all its branches, and binding both planter and negro to that course which, from a regard to their mutual interests, and to considerations of general equity and wisdom, the framers of tile gradual;Abolition Bill had all along contemplated. If by thus reasoning and thus voting a large number of Conservatives have obtained for the cause of justice a victory, which has pro tanto helped to keep for a moment longer those feeble Ministers in office, we are as ready as our neighbours to regret such an indirect consequence of an upright action ; but if a legislator, or a member of private society, were to refrain from doing what honour and inte grity demanded of him for the protection of the innocent, lest he might thereby promote collaterally the views of those whom he considered his enemies, no act prescribed by duty would ever be performed, and the world would become a fled for the certain triumph of every selfish and malignant impulse. In Monday's Number we referred to the speech of Mr. Gladstone (published in a pamphlet), for confirma tion of our own sentiments with regard to the gross injustice and treachery proposed by the Strickland and the Wilmot motions. The speeches of Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley on that same evening were equal ly conclusive. The one fundamental fact, that the six years' ap prenticeship was part of the pledged compensation to the West India in terest, should of itself be sufficient to settle the question in the mind of every honest Member of Parliament. But, happily, some crimes are frus trated by the difficulty which the nature of things itself throws in the way of their execution, and when Sir Robert Peel asked your " imme. diate abolitionists" how they would deal with those West India proprietors who, multi* the sanction of the existing law, had purchased for large sums of money the unexpired labour of apprentices from other masters, or how they would en the instant, and at sight, set about framing a new code of measures for regulating the new state of society which would be produced by the change in the condition of the negro, from servitude to absolute free dom—the visage of immediate abolition fell —even the dexterous im pudence of O'Connell was staggered and refused to answer. On the whole, we are not sorry that the whole case of the "immediate aboli_ tionists" was pushed into open day. The progress of the discussion in three successive stages was such as to develope the salutary tendency of public opinion in this country to correct itself. The majority of 54 against Sir George Strickland improved into one of 72 in support of the resolutions introduced by Sir George Grey ; and as for the issue of Sir Earclley Wilmot's motion, it deserves no notice beyond that which is due to a definite record of the unsuccessful cunning practised by the subalterns in the service of her Majesty's Government.— Time,,. Yesterday the observations of our cotemporaries on the proceedings of the previous evening in the House of Commons, evinced an unusual coincidence of sentiment. All parties united in eulogising the con ciliatory tone of Sir Robert Peel's speech, and auguring most favourable results from the terms on which he expressed his willingness to bring to a satisfactory settlement the three leading questions of Irish policy— the Church, the Poor.laws, and Corporations. Would that we could participate in these hopes as cordially as we wish their realiza. tion 1 Far be it from us, however, by a premature expression of sus picion, to disturb the good feeling and confidence necessary to the wished-for constimmation. When men profess an inclination to turn from the evil of their ways, even ii their sincerity be dubious, it is judicious to give them the utmost encouragement, so as to leave them no pretext for not persevering in their own reformation. We, therefore, impugn not Sir Robert Peel's sincerity, but we would im. press upon the public mind the necessity of unremitting vigilance, the more effectually to secure those fair promises which were so temptingly displayed in the Right Honourable Baronet's speech on Tuesday night. The reply of a Member of the Chamber of Deputies, who, on being asked if he believed in the conversion of Talleyrand, answered, " I be lieve in no conversions, not even in that of the 5 per Cents.," will not often be found inapposite to those sudden changes of political or re ligious opinions. However, at the best, there will be much difficulty to be overcome in rendering the proposed measures efficient to their ob jects. We confess also that we cannot see the advantage of making measures so perfectly distinct in themselves mutually dependent on each other, and so far were gratified by the observation of Sir Robert Peel, to the effect that if the Tithe • Bill should not pass, that circumstance should not be allowed to ope rate as any impediment to the passing of time Irish Municipal Bill. On this subject, however, we must endeavour to guard against having the promise kept to the ear amid broken to the sense. The proposition to fix the municipal franchise at 10/., for instancts, is not establishing what is professed to be so ardently desired—an identity of laws between England and Ireland. Every one conversant with the condition of Ire land must know that the same class of persons who pay on time average 101. a year rent in Ireland, pay in this country at least 201., so that fix ing the franchise in Ireland at the former sum would be equivalent to fixing it at the latter in this country, and therefore the corporate con stituencies at a 101 franchise in Ireland will be placed under a far higher qualification than in this country. Pressure of matter, how_ ever, for the present, compels us to reserve our commentary on this and other parts of the proposed policy for Ireland.—Morning Advertiser, We understand that Mr. Stuart has stated, that from first to last his short connection (less than twelve months) with the borough of Bedford has cost him at least 10 ,0001.—llertford lirfurnicr. Among all the occupation s of the morning, the Queen still finds time to continue taking lessons in singing from Signor Lahlache, who has had the distinguished honour of teaching her Ma. jesty for some time prior to the accession. The Queen is also in the habit of performing pianoforte duets with such of the young ladies in waiting as are musical ; but her Majesty seldom plays alone. In the return from . Epsom Races yesterday, an accident occurred near Tooting in consequence of the driver of a britschka attempting to pass some carriages on the wrong side of the way. The britschka Came in contact with a carriage and four which preceded it, and unfortunately the postilion of the leading horses had his leg broken. The man was carried up to town and conveyed to St. George's I1o;pital, where lie is doing well, We understand, how ever, that he has a large family, who suffer severely from big tills, fortune. RESEMBLANCE.--A Dutchman, in describing the appearance of his two horses, said that " They were so much alike, that when you saw the one, you would think it was the other. One was a plack horse wid a white spot in his face, and the other was a white horse wid a pi: ck spot in his face." A certain Tory Parson, not five miles from Dover, on calling to pay a bill at the shop of a respectable tradesman the other day, on being asked by the shopman if he had any farther commands, answered in the following terms :—" 0 no. Your master, I find, is the wrong colour for me. He is a Joe Hume man ; and :all his race are thick and thin blues; and therefore (said he) as the Jews must have no dealings with the Samaritan; I must beg to withdraw my Dover Chronicle. NEGRO EMANCIPATION.—yesterday a placard was very extensively posted and circulated th roug h out the city, an nouncing a meeting to be held very shortly on the subject of negro at, prenticeship. The placard bears the liken ess of a negro upon his bonded knees, and underneath are the words, in allusion to the forth coming coronation, " Will her Majesty consent to become a Queen of slaves ?" The appeal is somewhat whe a t s in t h e neighbourhood of what pointed : strong clay soils arc l ooking remarkably healthy, being good colour ; b u t upon the sands they are thin ETastißE well et set, foC and of : f and looking yellow; in some places they are nearly brown, and in low swampy situations the frost has been so severe as to kill the Wade and root; by acres together. Barley on the forest land is generally looking well, though upon poor soils it looks starved, and presents a very patchy it has r ece i ved injury in wet and swampy saipti,:eaatiroannsc.e,A an d,similar remark will appl y to oats. Beans and peas are uoth looking well, but they do not p rogress so fast as could be desired. like wheat, Seeds are also looking, well, but where sheep and cattle have been suf. fered to pasture the frost has made a serious havoc, and a want of ver dure is very generally complained of “ — Doncaster Gazelle. We are sorry to announce the death of the Dowager Countess Poulett, which took place at Brighton on the 27th instant. Her Ladyship was the only child of the late— Borges, Esq., of East Ham, Essex. She married, first, Sir John Smith, Bart., of Havering_ bower, who took the name of Borges ; and married, secondly, in July, 1816, John, fourth Earl Poolett. Her ladyship Was much esteemed and beloved by all who knew her. EXPORTATION OF THE PRECIOUS METALS.—. The exportation of gold and silver coin from the i ort of Londe to foreign ports, for the past week, ending 29th inst., is as under;— Gold coin to Hamburg, 755 oz.; Mauritius, 520 oz. ; Cape of Good pe, 1 `2,20 66 oz. ; silver dit to tq liottertlain, 10 5 0Q0 oz.; Mauritius, , ounces: AND BOLTON RAILWAY. After a number of other toasts and speeches, the Chairman lef t chair, and the party broke up a few minutes belore five o'clock. —Vi chester Guardian. The reading room of the British Museum is row kept open till seven o'Clock on alternate evenings. This arraisigenle z4 will continue for about three months. ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL.--011 Tuesday the firs t annual general meeting of the friends and supporters of this Instituti on was held at the r ooms of the Horticultural Society, Regent-street, Sir George Cockburn, G.C . 8 ., i n the chair. Amongst the distinguishe'l °t. ', ficers present we n o ti ce d Admiral Sir Erskine Douglas, Admiral sir Thomas Hardy, Admiral Sutherland, Admiral White, Major. General '• John Savage, Colonel Robinson, R.E. ; Captains—Jones, Dickerlil: Sweeney, &c. After th e e l ection of officers for the ensuing year t meeting separated. „- • • RAILWAY CONVEYANCE OF MAILS.--Mr. .14 1- bouchere, Master of the aoyal Mint, has placed upon the books o f d i l l, ' he House of Common s a not i ce that, on Thursday next, June 7, th e move for leave to b r i ng i n a Bill to provide for " the conveyance of mails by railways.” On Tuesday, shortly after ten o'clock, a gentletl (a German), named Deshyver, entered the Coachmakers' Arms, li niglh. street, Blackfriars-road, accompanied by three females. They v . ' e ' „.„ into the parlour, an d called for some brandy and water, which supplied. In about three-quarters of an hour the landlord was gr e3 L b i alarmed on hearin g cr i es f or assistance, and on entering the room fn.t the unfortunate ge n tl eman lying on the floor, having a dreadful gas the left side of the head, from which the blood was flowing in a stre Mr. Johnson, a surgeon, residing in the Blackfriars-road, was sent who promptly a tt en d ed and dressed the wound, which was sev eral '.fic' , 'rs in length. In the mean time it was f oun d that a la Bank of FM 13P .,, 1 note and- -free sovereigns h a d b een a b stracted from Mr. De illYvetill pocket. The landlord (Mr. Greening) kept the women in cc sto di ii je the arrival of p o li ce _ constable Poole, 33 M. A search was tine° l er for the property, when the note and three sovereigns were found the seat. The blow was inflicted with a short iron crow Ixtr, and' hoer it been on th e t emp l e, must have caused instant death. M' :. D e6 ' . ' A was removed to hi s l o d g i ngs i n Little Newport-street, Hayr aar ket, ""„ hackney coach. A HERO OF A HUNDRED CONSTITUENCIES ,— "" When the Antislavery Delegates from this city caned upon the g allant Colonel Sibthorp, to entreat his support of Sir George Strickland's mo tion, they received no satisfactory assurance of his disposition to v ote in favour of emancipation. " I am an independent Member," quoth the Gallant Colonel—" I am unfettered, unpledged—if the citizens of Lin coln do not approve of me there are a hundred constituencies that would be gh.d to have me as their representative! "—Lincoln Gazette. A PATRIARCHAL O'CONNELL.---W e have to re— cord the death of an old man named John O'Connell, who expired ors Monday morning last, at the dwelling of his children (who have mai fit tained him fur some years), in Red Bull-court, Mason street, in ',0 9 town. The deceased was (aci•ording to his own statement) in his, o ne hundred and st:rth year. He was a native of Killarney, and f,r the greater part of his life had been a gardener; but for the last (Add or nine years, since he came over to this country, and lived air's hJI children, he had not laboured at his calling, though, at the age of 9g• he expressed a strong wish to have a garden; for, as he said, he WO, quite able to mana ge one. A b out ten or eleven months ago AV!! noticed the death of his son, Daniel O'Connell, at the age of twenty - Jour; s ° ' that the father must have been eighty years of age at the birth of this son. The old man attended his son's funeral ; since which, we are told, , the circumstances of the family have keen much straitened.—M" . chest:!r Guardian. A number of persons have this week h a d their curiosity gratified by seeing the nest of a water wagtail, which has be"' built under one of the switches of the railway near the Scotby statior!! and which at this time contains six eggs; upon which the parrot bin d 9 are now sitting. The attention of engineers on one of the locamot engines was attracted by seeing, fur several days in succession, a bird ris e up from the same place, a few yards before his train; and on exat aM 3 " lion the fact proved t o b e as we have described it—the birds has built their nest in th e h o ll ow under the rail made for working the switc'a.. 0" the arrival of th e engines within a few yards of the spot they in . rat iablY quit their sin gu l ar d omicile, and return to it immediately after the I)3s-7 sage of the tr a i n ; b ut they do not seem the least disturbed lAy the Per' sons who are attracted to the spot to examine their curious r,ovde.-----C'ir lisle Journal. Chelsea is infested with hordes of 'strong st urdY beggars who se i mpudence and importunity remind o',,e of Le S age's - Me" : dicant, who p resented his hat to Gil Bias, and a T- A resident in thi s b eggar ridden locality states ',hat the daily , Averag e visitors o f thi s c l ass, " who knock and ring his door is 'JO or alA ilt 9.00 a week.A .- stol at the same W ile ( " at A small John Dory—a very rare fish in this quart er —was taken yesterday in our river, by the men engaged in the salnn fishing. The t ac k sman of the river would perhaps have been as Nei l satisfied to have caug h t a good P• ienty-pound salmon, whi c h we are so il '' , to say is almost as rare a fish this season in the Ness ac John 1"" himself! —lnverness Courier. Notwithstanding the svollen state of the Tay ° ll i s . week from th e constant and heavy rains, g re3t the take of sa l mon h a s 1 i mproved throughout t h e whole river, but particularly at the LIPP I stations. , at S IGNET RINGS.— .: or! A great Variety of these t T ise f and Fashionable RINGS, are kept for Selection, with Co - naliaul Amethyst, Topaz, and other Real Stones, suitable for er i gravl . Armorial bearings may be referred to, or found, gratis, r Ar d c an s, engraved by an Artist of great talent, at T. COX S 'AT/ORV (SGoldsmith, Silversmith, and Watchmaker, 47, • Corrl': 1 11, Loua ° even Doors from Graceellurch-street). 11/RTES. f il• On the 27th i ns t . , at T hornton-heath, Croydon, Surrey, A John llovil, of twins. At Clapham New-park, on the 28th inst., Mrs. B. Wa.;ren , daughter. On the 28th inst., in River-terrace, Islington, Mrs. of a son. 11. Ilrin t ' On the 26th i nst , M rs. Miles Berry, of Alecklenburgli-street, of a son. On the 29th inst., at Dalston, the lady of Thos. 2.,denboroug li ' Esq., of a daughter. On the 24th i nst., at St. Peter's Port, Guernsey, the lady Captain lienvey, R. N. of a son. On the 26th inst., the lady of John Garratt, Esq., of Bish o court, Devon, of a daughter. On the 27th i nst., in Loser Belgra ve - street, Eaton-square, 'g• Anthony Cleasby, of a son. On the Turner, of a 27th in,1.., at N orwoo d , t h e lady of the Rev. son, MAri.alED. On the 24th inst. at St. Andrew's Church, Plymouth, Girdwood Charmer, lieutenant B enga l A rtillery, t o Su , 11 , r ; eldest dau g ht er o f the Rev. N. Ke n d a ll, Vi car of Lan livery ' Cornwall. On the !nth inst., at St. Mark's, Kenningt on , the Rev' svn' Parley, 0:1 Ockham, Surr e y, t o C aro li ne, daughter of the lat Ite,'„ Wm. Farley, Vicar of Effingham, Surrey. On the 29th i nst., at Ch rist Church Surrey, Edward rAf ylv °it, Esq., o f St am f or d -street, to Sarah, only daught er of Jol,n "Deac°' „ ' Esq., of Stamford-street, and Deetors'-Commons. • DIED. --- On the 29th i ns t., i n York-terrace, Thomas Berry'ugh, "s' a " of Chetwynd Park, Shropshire, aged 78. On the 28th i nst., Mr. Richard Banks, of Gm , ve-terrace, eN Peckham, aged 78. On the 21 st i nst., at Brighton, aged 61, comm is sary-Ge neral Lamont. On the 27th inst., at Binfield Villa, rier);s, Elizabeth Amelia' wife of Colonel Kenai), C. 13., aged 49. On the 29th inst., at. Chatham-place, Blackfriars, Sydney, t he youngest son of Mr. Foe;go, aged 10. On the 26th inst., in Connaugl'A-terrace, aged 82, Mrs. B obi ?" son, relict of " c h e R ev. Thomas Robinson, of St. :Mary 9 P Leicester. On tte 29tH inst., Frances, Tourth daughter of Mr. Java Mor-. 'ism, of Craven -street, aged. 8. At the Cape of Good Hope, on the 6th of March last, Colone . J. P. B o il eau, commanding Bengal horse Artillery. On the 26 t h i nst., i n Cannon -street. road, St. Georg,e'.F-1;*- th e " East, Samuel Slatter, , Esq. aged 46. —.ger Na Londo n : P r i nted and Published byiIURDO YOUNG, c — 4 , 112, Strand, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the c *on': of Middlesex.—Thursday, May 31, 1838. OPENING OF THE MANCHEsTEit On Thursday last, the line of railway between Manchester and Bol , to 1 was formally opened, by th e passage of two tra i ns convey i ng a nunad . t' 1. . of shareholde rs an d their friends from Manchester to Bolton and WO.: The first of these trains comprised five first-class carriages, drawn by the Victoria engine; the second train cons!sted of one first, and four second-class carriages, d rawn b y the Fairfield. The carriages con t ai ned about one hundred gentlemen, the greater part of whom w:: re share holders from Li verpool, with the engineer and other principal serval!s of the Company. The time fixed for the departure of the trains eleven o'clock; but the first train moved off from the station in Ne w Bailey-street exactly at two minutes before eleven ; and, after a very I.l?asaitt and steady trip, without a moment's check, arrived at the Bolto.n station at 24,1 minutes past eleven ; having thus been 261 Minutes in making the journey, a di stance of little more than nine miles. Zhe . second train moved f rom t h e New Bailey -street station a few m i nu tes after the first ; but met with a trifling interruption, in c o nsequence . , e` one or too of the ax l es o f the carriages (which were quite new) ha . v u f heat: d with the m ot i on. A very short delay, however, put all to rights, and the train arr i ved at Bolton at a quarter before twelve Wel" After inspecting the offices and other w or k s a t t h e B o l ton en d of the line, the party re-entered the carriages, which, on the return, were 'At_ drawn by the Vi c t or i a engine; the intention being to proceed v ery slowly, in ord er t o g i ve the party a better opportunity of examining t l ll works. For this pu r p ose, t h e train made several stoppages, e gentlemen descended f rom t h e carr i ages, and walked for short dis t a nce : along the line, i nspect i ng the bridges, the mode of laying the rails, as d other portions of th e work ; all of which app eare d t o b e ver y substan tial and workm an dik e, and gave great satisf a cti on t o th e s h a reholdyr s i " It is probably know n to roost of our readers, that the rails, instea d being laid (as on th e Li verpool and Manchester and some other line s) upon detached sto n e or wooden sleepers, are laid upon continuou =s bearings, in some o f s t one, but generally of Kyanized timber ; t he beams which form th e b ear i ngs being connected, at short intervals, by cross pieces, so as to k eep t h em at a proper distance from each ot h e r. This mode of layi ng th e ra i ls has a very firm and substantial appearanc e, and the motion of th e carriages was very easy and pleasant. and t Amongst other points where the carriages stopped on their return', was the embankm en t across the valley at Clifton, for the purpose o f enabling the party to view, at their leisure, the fine scenery of that portion of the vale of the Irwell, and especially the beautiful wooded knolls in the neighbourhood of Prestwich. The Clifton embankment commands a very favourable view of this portion of the valley ; 3 " as, owing to the rain of the day before, it was clothed with an unusua l richness and freshness of verdure, the scene commanded the warm ari miration of all who witnessed it. After a very pleasant journey the train arrived at the station in No v Bailey-street at a quarter past two o'clock; and the company assemble dl were invited by the Directors to partake of a cold collation at Lacey man's Hotel, Bridge-street, where about ninety gentlemen sat down; James Brancker, Esq. of Liverpool, in the chair. After the cloth wa' drawn, the Chairman gave a series of toasts appropriate to the occa sion. In giving the health of the Queen, he observed that they lo d had the satisfaction of opening the line on her Majesty's birth -day , and the first engine which had traversed it had the honour of bearing her name. Mr. RITSON, the Treasurer, in proposing a toast, said he had the' satisfaction of announcing to the shareholders, that one portion of th e ' property, the canal, had been going on very prosperously; that adi dend out of the profits would he made forthwith ; and that he hal ." doubt, in six months after the opening of the railway, the propri etor; would receive a very fair return for their capital. The toast of " The Committee" was acknowledged by E. D. Tr'alkner;. E , q. of Fairfield, near Li verpoo l , who gave a detail of the proceedings ". the Company from its first formation, w ith t h e view of showing that there bad been no unnecessary delay in forming the railway; for it V"' only in the month of June, 1335, that they had obtained the Act 31-1 , thorising the f orma ti on o f t h e present line; and the shareholders woo," have seen, from that day's excursion, that the work to be perform was of no trifling magnitude.